TAHU Update Volume No. 5 Issue No. 2 October 2003
October Meeting
Tuesday, October 14 2003
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
OCTOBER GUEST SPEAKER
Robert C. Paschal
Young, Moore & Henderson
Mr. Paschal is a Partner at Young, Moore & Henderson, PA and a lobbyist for the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters. His practice emphasizes matters relating to life, accident and health insurance and ERISA, legislative, representation of TPA's and corporate law.
Robert is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in North Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and American Law Firm Association.
Robert gets to cheer for both Duke and Carolina since he earned his B.A. at UNC-Chapel Hill and his J.D. at Duke Univ. He is an elder at White Memorial Presbyterian Church and Chairman of its Building Committee; Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Rex Healthcare Foundation.
SPONSORED BY
Ameritas
Click for INFO from Ameritas
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President's Message:
Nancy Gibson, HIA, MHP |
One of the interesting things about taking a journey is to sometimes look behind to see where you have been. I recently was reading a History of the National Association of Health Underwriters. The charter convention took place in Chicago on June 5-6, 1930. The stated objections and purpose of the new organization were outlined as follows:
1. To eliminate destructive competition through better understanding;
2. To aid in directing and shaping health insurance legislation;
3. To raise the ethical standards of the business;
4. To educate the public as to the nature and benefits of health insurance;
5. To collect and disseminate the most successful sales ideas and methods; and
6. To exchange methods of sales training and any other helpful general information pertaining to the business.
I found these objectives to be very much like the ones we still strive to attain in our organization.
I also thought it important for you to know my stated objectives this year. They are:
1. To provide meaningful programs to ALL members;
2. To provide 12 CE credits per year as part of membership benefits;
3. To create an effective system of networking;
4. To have a membership gain of 20%;
5. To raise the awareness of the broker community and general public about NCTAHU - who we are and what we do.
As we move forward on our journey this year please keep the objectives both past and present in mind so that you can contribute to the success of our organization.
Get to know your Board . . .
In an attempt to let you know more about who your leaders are, at my request as President, each of our Board members has shared some information about themselves. There was no stated format and you will find each of them very different and very interesting. There's some great talent on your board. Part of why we attend our meetings and belong to this organization is to get to know each other better. So, here's our first "Intro"
Bill Hendrickson----
Have been in the Group Insurance/Employee Benefit business for almost 50 years. Started out at Connecticut General,(CIGNA)in Hartford, CT and Buffalo, then moved to New York with United States Life as national sales manager. Moved into the broker world with Corroon & Black (now The Willis Group) followed by Marsh & McLennan. Started my own business in New York in 1985 and now am Chairman of Hendrickson & Company, Inc. My son, Douglas, is the CEO still based in New York. Presently Treasurer of the Board of the Rhine Research Center, Durham--the successor to the Duke Parapsychology Lab, founded by my wife's father, Dr. J. B. Rhine. Also on the Board of the Orange County Human Relations Commission and live in Hillsborough.
Thanks, Bill, for allowing us to know more about you.
I hope all of you will take a moment at our meeting this month to share a little about yourself with someone else. Let's get to know each other this year so that we can build a better understanding of the other members of our organization.
Nancy Gibson, HIA, MHP
Principal Financial Group
1616 East Millbrook Road, Suite 210
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-783-7790
919-783-9748 Fax
gibson.nancy@principal.com
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Treasurer:
Jay Kennedy |
Please consider our Pre-Pay program for our monthly luncheons. You can pre-pay in the amount of $100 and purchase your lunches for the entire TAHU year (10 meetings through next June). You can enroll during the upcoming September or October meetings. Make checks payable to TAHU. Also, keep in mind that you as a member of TAHU are entitled to have access to both the TAHU annual budget and the monthly Treasurer's reports. Please see Jay Kennedy for further information.
Jay Kennedy
Four County Health Network, Inc.
511 Ruin Creek Road
Suite B-1
Henderson, NC 27536
252-430-0360
252-430-8980 Fax
jkennedy@vance.net
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Law and Legislation:
Bill Hendrickson |
At the September meeting we asked all those in attendance to complete a three question written poll during the program. We collected those who completed the poll and have had a chance to tabulate the results. Let me say that we have a very creative membership. There were almost as many ideas presented as there were members who completed the poll. Here is a sampling of the results:
1. Q. What are the three major difficulties you have with small group health insurance in North Carolina? Some of the answers were:
Cost (most prominent answer)
Lack of product choices
Rate changes from quoted rates to final rates
Network limitations
Participation problems
Forms are all different and too complex
2. Q. What (besides cost) are the major complaints and suggestions of your clients?
Too many network and benefit changes
EOB's difficult to read
Too much underwriting detail
No loyalty from carrier to clients
General service
Suggestion to have on-line billing
Suggestion to reduce mandates
Suggestion for more reciprocity with other states
Suggestion for more options for small groups and more individual plans
3. Q. What new type of health insurance would you like to see made available in North Carolina?
MSA's and HRA's
Broader coverage from more carriers
Guarantee issue at reasonable cost
Apply deductibles to Office Visits and Prescription Drugs
Choice of carriers within a single plan for small groups (California has a plan called CalChoice with about four carriers available for employees in a small group.)
There were many other good suggestions and comments submitted, but these were repeated by more than one person-sometimes several persons had the same complaints or suggestions. We can use these as we contact our legislators to improve the health insurance situation in North Carolina.
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Health Accounts (MSA's and the like) would allow Americans to save for current and future health care expenses if this feature is allowed to be part of the Medicare prescription drug bill. A researcher at the National Center for Policy Analysis said that these accounts would:
1. Increase patients' control over their health care costs, reducing the need for managed care.
2. Such accounts are portable, so that changing jobs no longer means losing coverage.
3. Health accounts allow people to save for their retirement health care needs.
Health accounts would also reduce the number of uninsured. 73% of Americans with MSA's previously were uninsured, according to the IRS. These are popular plans and Congress needs to wake up to the needs and desires of the American public related to health care needs.
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Rationing for health care for the elderly has become an open topic of discussion in Germany. Two professors who are noted health care experts have asked the government to abstain from operations for patients over 75. The professors want the public discussion to lead to such decisions being made by politicians, not physicians. Some say that rationing is already in place in that elderly patients receive less expensive care than younger patients and these decisions are now being made by doctors.
In America, some unspoken rationing is taking place as more physicians refuse new Medicare patients and treatment for the elderly can appear to be less exhaustive and thorough than for younger patients. What are the opinions of TAHU members? Do you feel that your parents and grandparents should receive a lower level of care than you would expect for yourself? Let us know how you would vote on this sensitive topic.
William Hendrickson
Hendrickson & Company, Inc.
2219 Lawrence Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919 644-8636
919 644-6433 Fax
bill2219@mindspring.com
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Membership:
Beth Donner |
Most of you were not attendance for the NCAHU Leadership Conference at Sea Trails, so I'll share the resounding message-- it was MEMBERSHIP!
In case you don't know, there are now 38,000 liscensed insurance agents currently in our state and approximately 830 of us are members of NAHU/ NCAHU/ TAHU. That is only 2.2% membership within our state. This is not enough members for our vioce to be heard. Our state goal is to add 1,000 new members this year. YES-- this is more than doubling our size and we in the Triangle Chapter need to do our part to meet or exceed this goal.
We all know at least one person in the industry that could benefit from the wealth of information that NAHU/ TAHU have to offer so start thinking of who that person would be for you and invite them to one of our meetings! Each member needs to take an active role in accomplishing our state goal as oppossed to leaving it up to just a few members on a committee.
Your efforts will not go unnoticed! NCAHU is having a contest for the Chapter with the most growth. And it is as follows:
* $1,000 CASH Reward will be presented to the Chapter with a net growth of 35%
* $500 CASH Reward will be presented to the Chapter with a net growth of 25%
* TWO $250 CASH Rewards will be presented to the two NCAHU members who have added the most new members for the 2003-2004 year
So lets make it a great year and recruit new members
**Membership directories are currently at the printers and will be available by the next meeting on Oct. 14, 2003.
Elizabeth C. Donner
Diversified Planning
10 Ivy Hollow Court
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-460-6076
919-380-0908 Fax
bdonner@investment-works.com
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Public Service:
Allison Tolksdorf, RHU |
Welcome to our members for the 2003-2004 year! I am the new chairperson for Public Service and we are looking for ideas for this year. Please let me say thank you again for the support offered last year during several events - including the Golf Tournament (proceeds benefited Wake Enterprises, Inc.) and the shelter toiletry drive.
Please share any and all ideas with me. We are considering another drive to collect toiletries for the men's shelter in Raleigh, assisting a family for the holidays, and coordinating a charity drive with the Golf Tournament. Let's continue to have successful events to give to those less fortunate than we are.
Allison C. Tolksdorf, RHU
Jones Insurance Agency, Inc.
P.O. Box 190
Garner, NC 27529-0190
919-772-0233
919-772-4783 Fax
allisont@jones-insurance.com
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Website:
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC |
Something Old . . . Something New . . .
Whether you are a frequent visitor to our website or a brand new user, this year's version of www.nctahu.org has something new and improved for you.
Something Old:
"EVENTS" has information about our activities through June 2004 (we will add more as they are scheduled).
"JOIN TAHU" lists benefits of membership and has on-line and printable application forms.
"LINKS" connects you to state and national sites for the industry and government.
"MEMBER LIST" contains all the contact information we know about current members. (Is your listing correct?)
"NEWSLETTERS" has on-line copies of our newsletter for the last three years. (Beginning October 2003, this is the only place to get your monthly newsletter.)
"WEBMASTER" sends an email message to me - hopefully you will use this to let me know when your address and phone numbers change.
Something New:
"EDUCATION" describes state requirements, training for designations, and a list of designations of our chapter members.
"HISTORY" is a brand new page about the background of the local and national associations, including past officers.
"PHOTOS" is an on-line collection of pictures of us.
Something Better:
"AWARDS" now lists our chapter's award winners in addition to explaining honors that are available at the local, state, and national levels.
"LEGISLATIVE" has been totally reworked to provide background on law and legislation, resources for information, and resources for action.
I still see our web site as an evolving project, hopefully designed to meet the needs of our members. Please let me know if there are ways I can make it more useful for you.
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
2501 Aerial Center Drive, Suite 200
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
919-765-4671; 800-228-6216
919-467-2823 Fax
Michele.Gregory@bcbsnc.com
As the success of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters largely depends upon the benevolence of corporate contributors, we are proud to honor the following organizations for their continued support of our many programs and activities:
Diamond Sponsors
2003-2004
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of NC
UnitedHealthcare
Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.
Remember that the cost of lunch for TAHU members is $12. Guest and non-member lunches are $16.
Fax reservations to 919-806-8455 or email to Mike Alexander
There will be a $3 charge for lost or misplaced name badges. Please remember to turn in your badge at the conclusion of each meeting.
Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177
